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The outside entrance to Loading Bay

Loading Bay: Visual Story

This visual story has been created to help you plan your visit to Loading Bay in Bradford City Centre.

Welcome to Loading Bay

This page includes images and descriptions of the venue, access information including toilets, and information about how to get here.

Did you know… Loading Bay used to be a warehouse for Marks & Spencer!

Entrance to Loading Bay
The outside and entrance to Loading Bay 

Loading Bay opening times

Loading Bay is a venue for performances, exhibitions and other events. Our opening times sometimes change, for example if we are getting a new exhibition ready, so please check our Loading Bay venue page for the latest opening time information.

Our normal opening hours are:

  • Thursday, Friday, Saturday: open 12-6pm
  • Sunday: open 12-4pm
  • Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday: closed

We also have events that happen outside of these opening times, including in the evening – have a look at our what’s on page to see what’s coming up soon.

How to get here

The Loading Bay address is:

Loading Bay
1 Duke Street
Bradford
BD1 3QR

The nearest train station is Bradford Forster Square. It’s a short walk from the station to Loading Bay if you use the lift, or take the stairs. The walk takes around 3 minutes.

Bradford Forster Square access information

For up to date access and travel information for Bradford Forster Square station, see the National Rail website.

In the images below, you can see the route from Bradford Forster Square train station to Loading Bay, after using the lift to exit.

Automatic doors to exit the station to outside
1. Walk towards the doors to exit the station 
2. Cross over the road and walk up Duke Street
2. Use the crossing to cross over the road on to Duke Street 
An outdoor street and tall sand buildings
3. Walk up Duke Street and Loading Bay is your next left at the red phone box 

There’s also an alternative route that avoids the lift and stairs. This is a slightly longer walk, uphill, and should take about 10 minutes.

The images below show this alternative route from Bradford Forster Square train station to Loading Bay.

Arches underneath a bridge
1. Exit the station and walk up the incline next to the arches on your right 
2. When you reach the exit of the station, turn right to walk up Cheapside
2. When you reach the top of the incline, exit the station and turn right to walk up Cheapside 
3. On the incline there is a bench you can sit by to rest if needed
3. On the incline there is a bench nearing the top where you can sit by to rest if needed 
2. Cross over the road and walk up Duke Street
4. Use the crossing to cross over the road on to Duke Street 
An outdoor street and tall sand buildings
5. Walk up Duke Street and Loading Bay is your next left at the red phone box 

Getting the bus to Loading Bay

There are lots of buses that will take you to the Cheapside bus stop. This is close to Loading Bay.

Buses include: 633, 634, 643, 644, 653, 680, 820, 864, A3.

Bus stop outside of Loading Bay

Parking near Loading Bay

There is no dedicated parking at the venue. The nearest car parks are:

Kirkgate Car Park (Godwin Street)
Less than 5-minute walk away from Loading Bay.
www.kirkgate.co.uk/parking

Opening Hours:
Monday – Saturday: 9am – 5.30pm,
Sunday and Bank Holidays: – 10.30am – 4.30pm

 

Broadway Car Park (Hall Ings)
Less than 10-minute walk from Loading Bay.
www.broadwaybradford.com/parking

Opening Hours:
Monday – Sunday: 6am until 1am

When you arrive

The main entrance has both a ramp and step access.

Entrance to Loading Bay
The entrance to Loading Bay has a ramp and step access. 

There is outside space for you to enjoy if the sun is shining!

A bench with wheelchair access outside of loading bay
Picnic tables outside, one with a wheelchair user space. 

Our team of friendly volunteers will help you if you need anything. They wear bright sunshine yellow uniforms!

Volunteers smiling outside Loading Bay
A group of volunteers smiling outside. 

When you come inside, the box office is immediately on your left.

Box office at the loading bay
The box office – a black counter to your left when you enter Loading Bay 

The theatre entrance is to the right.

double doors open to the entrance to the theatre
Double doors leading to the theatre.  

The Auditorium

Inside the theatre is the auditorium. There are nearly 200 seats in here.

Theatre seats inside the auditorium at Loading Bay
The Theatre Auditorium 

If you need to leave during a performance, please use the door at the top of the steps.

A volunteer will be able to guide you.

If you need the toilet whilst in the theatre, you can access them through the exit door on the top right of the auditorium stairs, a volunteer will help lead you. 

The toilets

To get to the toilets, you’ll need to go out of the auditorium the way you came in.

Signage in Loading Bay
Signs to help direct you around Loading Bay 
double doors open to the entrance to the theatre
1. Theatre door direction to toilets, turn left
Hallway walk down to Loading Bay toilets
2. Walk down the corridor past the lift
Entrance to the ground floor toilets at Loading Bay with signage
3. Ahead are 2 toilets and a family changing, follow the signs to more toilets to your left.
Accessible toilets at Loading Bay
4. More toilets and an accessible toilet can be found down the corridor to the left

A link to a map showing the nearest Changing Places toilet is here: Changing Places Toilets

There are other spaces here too.

On the first floor is the gallery space.

And there is a basement.

Door to the stairs to get to the
Door leading to the stairs 

Route to the basement

1. Stairs leading down to the basement and up to the gallery.
2. Route down the stairs to the basement
3. Entrance from the stairs to the basement

The Basement

The basement is a big open space with a concrete floor and features all-black walls. It serves as a versatile space for various events, so it might look very different if there’s a performance here.

Please note that we are currently awaiting a more recent image of the basement. The image below shows the space empty and without the black walls.

Basement room, large empty room
The Basement space 
There is an accessible toilet and lift in the Basement 

The lift

If you take the lift to the first floor, you’ll need to press 1.

(You can use the stairs if you want to!)

Lift at loading bay. Buttons for the different levels, with the ground floor/ exit button lit up
The buttons to different levels in the lift 

The Gallery

Doors to enter the Gallery Space
Entrance to the gallery space 

At the moment, it’s empty. But this is where lots of different exhibitions will be throughout the year.

There will also be a quiet space here too.

Large space for a gallery
A big empty space with a concrete floor, forest green walls and a freestanding sunshine yellow wall in the middle. 

Get in touch

Do you have any questions about your visit to Loading Bay that we haven’t answered on this page?

You can get in touch with our Ticketing team by emailing [email protected] or by phone on 01274 053100 (available 12pm – 4pm, Monday – Friday).

Plan your visit to Loading Bay

Thank you for reading our Loading Bay visual story. We'd love to see you here soon! See what's on at Loading Bay and plan your next visit.

Black yellow and pink pixelated diagonal stripes
double doors open to the entrance to the theatre

1. Theatre door direction to toilets, turn left

Hallway walk down to Loading Bay toilets

2. Walk down the corridor past the lift

Entrance to the ground floor toilets at Loading Bay with signage

3. Ahead are 2 toilets and a family changing, follow the signs to more toilets to your left.

Accessible toilets at Loading Bay

4. More toilets and an accessible toilet can be found down the corridor to the left

1. Stairs leading down to the basement and up to the gallery.

2. Route down the stairs to the basement

3. Entrance from the stairs to the basement